Pro Bowl and second-team All Pro center Alex Mack is currently at his home in California preparing for NFL free agency to start 4 p.m. Tuesday.

After five seasons with the Browns, Mack already experienced three complete regime changes and a total of 23 wins. Yet, he’s still hopeful about the direction the Browns are going under the leadership of owner Jimmy Haslam, new general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine.

“My time in Cleveland was interesting to say the least,” Mack told USA TODAY Sports. “It was never boring. But there is no guarantee anywhere you go. It’s not a given what happens in Cleveland now or for any other team.

“I like where my future is going. Mr. Haslam, he’s a really good owner. I got a really good feeling about him. He’s a direct person who knows what he wants to do. There’s something to be said of that. It’s now a clean slate.”

The Browns met with Mack over the weekend. Along with Haslam, Farmer and Pettine, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and offensive line coach Andy Moeller were in attendance.

“That was a cool meeting,” Mack said. “I got to sit down with the new offensive coordinator and line coach. They discussed their scheme, where we’re going and the plans for offense. That went really well. I think they liked what they heard from me or they wouldn’t have tagged me. It was fun to talk to them. Now, we just go from there. It’s nice to possibly play in a system that fits your skill set and sets you up for success. That’s what I got from that meeting.”

With the transition tag, the Browns can match any offer made to Mack by another team within five days. If Mack simply signs the one-year contract, he’ll make $10.039 million during the 2014 season. That amount will make Mack the highest paid center in the NFL by nearly $2 million.

“It does put us in a good position,” Mack said. “It’s really good Cleveland likes me and wants me around. It could be nice to play for one year at the transition tag number. Without a doubt, they think highly of me.”

Despite the usage of the transition tag, Mack and his representation aren’t going to approach free agency any differently than they did prior to the Browns’ move.

“It doesn’t affect us at all. Marv Demoff [one of Mack’s agents] and I are going to take the very same approach as if he was an unrestricted free agent,” Mack’s agent, Tim Younger of Younger & Associates, said. “We’ll determine what we see are good fits when it comes to the teams. And vice versa.”

The transition tag gives Mack an opportunity to see what else is available. The Browns have a right to match, but he believes it’s an opportunity to get a taste of free agency for the first and maybe last time.

“It’s an interesting position to be put into to,” Mack said. “The transition tag will still allow me to see other teams, which is what we really wanted. … The goal was really to feel out my options. We wanted to know what the Browns are now about, and what other teams are doing.”

The first is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lovie Smith’s new staff includes Mack’s former college head coach, Jeff Tedford, as the team’s offensive coordinator and his previous offensive line coach with the Browns, George Warhop.

The Indianapolis Colts, who cut starting center Samson Satele Thursday, hired former Browns’ head coach Rob Chudzinski. Chudzinski was already a determining factor in the team’s acquisition of former Browns’ LB D’Qwell Jackson. The Colts could also be a possibility for Mack.

“I like Chud and [Browns’ former offensive coordinator Norv] Turner. I love Warhop,” Mack said. “I really liked where Cleveland was going. The firing came as a real surprise.”

If Mack is looking to relocate to anywhere other than Cleveland, it may be closer to his home in Santa Barbara. Mack grew up a Raiders’ fan.

But Cleveland remains a possibility for Mack mainly due to the fact the Browns can match any offer he receives.

“I have to be comfortable with that,” Mack said. “It’s their right. I have to weigh that into any potential decision. But I walked away from our meeting with the feeling it was a good meeting. Without a doubt, it’s not a bad thing to return to the Browns.

“We’ll see what happens. It’s tough to know. I don’t know how teams feel about me. I still have an opportunity to meet with coaches and experience free agency. That’s the goal. I like Cleveland; I know it. I like these new coaches. But there are other opportunities out there. You only get to play this game so long. Let’s see what else is out there.”